Raspberry plant variety denominated &#39;ofelia so&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new raspberry cultivar named Ofelia SO having good fruit colour and flavour, large and firm conical red berries is disclosed. The new cultivar has the advantages of producing fruits that are easy to pick, with a good colour and flavour and a very good shelf-life.The new variety produces two crops per year: the fruits ripen both on previous season&#39;s cane in summer and on current season&#39;s cane in autumn.

Genus and species: Rubus idaeus L.

Variety denomination: ‘Ofelia SO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW VARIETY

A new and distinct cultivar of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) hereinafter referred to by the cultivar denomination Ofelia SO is disclosed. The new variety Ofelia SO was obtained from the controlled cross between the varieties Amaranta (mother plant, CPVO: Application number PT9041) and SO.LR.08.25.30 (father plant, not patented).

The crossing for the new cultivar occurred in year 2017 in Altopiano della Vigolana (Trento—Italy) and it has been subject to selection in 2018, and successively tested until 2021. The characteristics of the new cultivar have been found stable and have been transmitted without change through succeeding (more than 4 years) asexual propagations by root cutting.

Plant breeder's right were applied for with the European Union on Oct. 11, 2021. ‘Ofelia SO’ has not been made publicly available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the cultivar Ofelia SO are hereunder reported.

-   -   Primocane raspberry plant;     -   Very early to early fruit ripening on current season's cane in         autumn;     -   Medium time fruit ripening on previous season's cane in summer;     -   Good fruit colour and flavour;     -   Very good shelf-life;     -   Firm large conical red fruits;     -   Easy to pick up (low adherence to plug).

The new variety produces two crops per year: the fruits ripen both on previous season's cane in summer and on current season's cane in autumn.

The new variety can be propagated by the use of suckers produced in a spawn-bed, root cutting and by use of tissue culture techniques. The root cutting technique is to be preferred.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The new red raspberry cultivar Ofelia SO is illustrated by the accompanying photographs showing typical specimens of the new variety in colour as true as reasonably possible to make the same colour illustrations of this character by conventional photographic procedures.

The photographs are of plants that are from three to four months old.

FIG. 1 is a view showing the 4-month-old raspberry plants with ripening fruit. The upright, tall plants and vigorous laterals can be appreciated.

FIG. 2 is a view showing 3-month-old raspberry plants, where the leaf upper and lower surfaces can be appreciated.

FIG. 3 is a view showing ripe Ofelia SO raspberry fruits.

FIG. 4 is a view showing ripe fruits (front) and ripening fruits still on the plant.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the leaves on a very vigorous plant.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the plant with both ripening and ripe raspberry fruits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description set forth the distinctive characteristics of the new variety Ofelia SO. The performance of the new cultivar for retention of its distinctive characteristics has been evaluated through successive asexual propagations by root cutting in the Applicant's setting in Altopiano della Vigolana, Trentino Alto Adige Region (Italy) under natural conditions in plastic covered high tunnels. The growing was in soilless using pots filled with coir as substrate.

Colour references made to RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (Edition V).

The plant assessment was performed for 4 years.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.         -   Botanical.—Rubus idaeus L.         -   Common name.—Raspberry. -   Parentage: Amaranta x SO.LR.08.25.30. -   Plant:     -   -   General habit.—Upright canes; strong vigor; very good root             system; adapted to medium winter conditions such as those at             Altopiano della Vigolana (average min temperature 1° C.;             average max temperature 5° C.); quite resilient to summer             heat (average min temperature 13° C.; average max             temperature 27° C.) suitable for being harvested both on             current year's cane in autumn and on previous year's cane in             summer.         -   Average height.—1.60-1.70 m.         -   Spread(average).—0.80 m.         -   Shape.—Conical.         -   Vegetative bud length.—Medium 5.0-6.5 mm. -   Primocane:     -   -   Length (average).—1.60-1.70 m.         -   Diameter (average).—at 1.0 m height: 0.9-1.0 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Internode length (average).—at 1.0 m height: 5-6 cm.         -   Number of fruiting laterals per cane (average).—9-11.         -   Number of current season's shoots.—Medium.         -   Young shoot colour.—*RHS: 144A.         -   Dormant cane colour.—*RHS: 185A.         -   Cane colour.—*RHS: N144C.         -   Spines.—Present. -   Floricane:     -   -   Dormant cane colour.—*RHS: 72A.         -   Fruiting lateral attitude in summer.—Semi erect. -   Spines:     -   -   Shape.—Conical.         -   Size (average).—1.0-1.5 mm.         -   Density (average) at 1.2 m.—2.1-2.4 per cm².         -   Colour.—*RHS N77A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaves.—         -   Shape.—Compound; odd-pinnate and subdivided in 3 cordate and             serrate.         -   Profile in cross section.—Slightly convex.         -   Rugosity.—Moderate to medium.         -   Complete leaf.—Length: 33.4 cm. Width: 29.8 cm. Number of             leaflets: 3-5.         -   Upper surface colour.—*RHS 141B.         -   Lower surface colour.—*RHS 147D.         -   Lateral leaflets.—Specular.         -   Lateral leaflets average size.—Length: 13.9 cm. Width: 9.1             cm.         -   Lateral leaflets apex shape.—Pointed.         -   Lateral leaflets base shape.—Ovate.         -   Lateral leaflets margin type.—Serrate.         -   Terminal leaflets average size.—Size: Length: 16.4 cm.             Width: 11.4 cm.         -   Terminal leaflets apex shape.—Pointed.         -   Terminal leaflets base shape.—Cordate.         -   Terminal leaflets margin type.—Serrate.         -   Petiole.—         -   Average length.—10.1 cm.         -   Average diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Colour.—*RHS 143D. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Average length.—48.8 cm.         -   Average diameter.—34 cm. -   Flowers:     -   -   Number per plant (average).—256.         -   Length (average).—9.56 mm.         -   Diameter (average).—31.35 mm.         -   Diameter (receptacle).—10.50 mm.         -   Shape.—Pentagonal.         -   Petal colour (upper surface).—*RHS: NN155B.         -   Petal colour (lower surface).—*RHS: NN155C.         -   Petal number (average).—5.         -   Petal shape.—Obovate. apex: rounded. Base: cuneate. Margin:             entire.         -   Sepal number (average).—5. colour (upper surface): *RHS:             144A. colour (lower surface): *RHS: 144C. length (average):             1.3 cm. width (mid part): 0.6 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Blooming.—Primocane: July-August. Floricane: April-May.         -   Pedicel length (average).—2.5 cm. -   Fruit:     -   -   Predominant shape.—Broad conical.         -   Weight.—5.6 g.         -   Size.—Length 2.3 cm. width 2.4 cm.         -   Colour of ripe fruit.—*RHS 45D.         -   Colour of immature fruit.—*RHS 41D.         -   Firmness.—Firm (0.045 kg).         -   Drupes per fruit (average).—135.         -   Drupe size.—Length: 3.9 mm. Width: 3.6 mm. Depth: 6.0 mm.         -   Glossiness.—Medium to high.         -   Adherence to plug.—Low.         -   Titratable acidity.—31.52 meq NaOH/hg.         -   Soluble solids.—8.6° Brix.         -   Harvest season.—Primocane: August to October. Floricane:             Half June-end of July.         -   Autumn yield.—5.8 Kg/m (4 plants/m).         -   Summer yield.—4.6 kg/m (4 plants/m).         -   Main bearing type.—Both on current year's cane in autumn and             on previous year's cane in summer Use/market: suitable for             consumption as high grade fresh fruits and also amenable to             processing.         -   Keeping quality.—The fruit colour is stable during the             storage the high glossiness makes it attractive.         -   Storage capacity (shelf life).—Very good shelf-life.         -   Shipping quality.—Good; the attitude to storability permits             shipping. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistil number per flower (average).—146.         -   Pistil size (average).—5.44 mm.         -   Stamen number per flower (average).—130.         -   Stamen size (average).—5.20 mm. -   Seeds:     -   -   Size (average).—Length: 2.81 mm. width: 1.66 mm.         -   Shape.—Kidney-shaped.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVAR

TABLE 1 Comparison table between Ofelia SO variety and commercial cultivar Dafne (U.S. Plant Patent application n. 16/350,828, PP31,991) Characteristic ‘Dafne’ ‘Ofelia SO’ fruit color Dark Red Red Plant (size/vigour) Medium Weak to medium Fruit: firmness Firm Firm Fruit: size Very big Big Fruit glossiness: High Medium to high Fruit shape Broad conical Broad conical Spine shape Shark fin Conical Fruit picking Easy Easy

TABLE 2 Comparison table with parental cultivars: female parent ‘Amaranta’ Characteristic (female parent) ‘Ofelia SO’ Fruit color Light red Red Fruit shape Elongated conical Broad conical Plant vigour Weak to medium Weak to medium Fruit firmness Firm to very firm Firm Fruit glossiness Medium Medium to high Fruit picking Very easy Easy

TABLE 3 Comparison table with parental cultivars: male parent ‘SO.LR.08.25.30’ Characteristic (male parent) ‘Ofelia SO’ Fruit color Strong red Red Fruit shape Conical Broad conical Plant vigour Weak Weak to medium Spines Thin medium dense Medium sparse Fruit firmness Firm to very firm Firm Fruit glossiness Medium to high Medium to high Fruit size Medium to big Big Fruit picking Slight difficult Easy 

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of raspberry plant as substantially herein shown and described. 